And so my Mum's journey to kick Cancer's butt has started..."officially"...
Her Oncologist is lovely, as is his Registrar...they were kind, and explained everything clearly and honestly. Mum (like me) copes better with things when she knows what she's dealing with...knowledge is key (for her anyway...I know for some, it doesn't work like that). She said she wants to know, "warts and all"...
Firstly, they wish to do a repeat CT scan just to see how things are since her last ones. The previous ones were done on 28th July and 17th Aug 2012 respectively.
Secondly, they are gonna really throw everything at her...she's a fighter so its only what she deserves. Five rounds of Radiotherapy treatment (10min per session) over five consecutive days, to start in about 2 weeks time. This is purely for pain relief for the pain she experiences in her sacrum (where the cancer has spread from her liver). This should give her months of pain relief...she may even be able to come off morphine completely...this would be wonderful!
Thirdly, they are going to start her on Nexavar - they've just sent off the application for funding and said it should take about 3 weeks before treatment can start. In the meantime, all the above will happen. Having done my research and had advice from a friend of mine who used to be an Oncologist, this is definitely the best treatment to 'buy her time'...
Prognosis: the "average" for Metastatic HCC is 10.7 months (with treatment) with half surviving less, and half surviving more. Am putting Mum in the latter as she is only 64, is otherwise in good health, despite cirrohsis of the liver, her liver function is good and it has (so far) only spread to a small part of her sacrum.
So there we have it...second 'Pain Clinic' on Wednesday to review liquid morphine - hoping they will move her onto something a little more 'sociable' as we are both knackered having to administer the 4-hourly doses at midnight and 4am! But whatever we need to do to keep the pain at bay.
Notice not a hint of emotion in this blog...I think shock has been replaced with 'practical mode'...although, that didn't stop me from losing it last night into my pillow...nor my completely inability that my Mum may not be with us this time next year. She is my absolute world...
